Developing us, developing you

“Everyone needs to keep honing their skills,” says Zap. And she should know. Not only is Zap a Mentor Leader for our Artis Specialists, she also has a PGCE and was a secondary schoolteacher before joining us.   “Our professional development workshops for staff are increasingly popular with teachers and learning assistants,” continues Zap. “Before we start work at a school we can offer an introductory session for staff so they understand exactly what the Artis approach is all about. Many schools choose to extend this as part of their continuing professional development (CPD) offer. We lead workshops on the three core performing skills that happen in every Artis session – drama, music and movement.

Depending on what schools want, we can tailor the sessions to suit needs. What matters is that teachers gain new creative learning skills and ideas they can use with their pupils in core curriculum lessons. So many of our techniques are simple but effective – you don’t need to be a hotshot on the piano or guitar for a lesson to include some element of music, for example.” Raynville Primary School Headteacher Su Edwards agrees. Her staff take part in weekly Artis sessions for pupils, watching and learning from the Artis Specialists’ strategies. “It helps form a more unified learning experience for the children”, she says. “Our curriculum is more cohesive as a result. Just as Artis links to our topics, so too can we bring their methods into our classrooms.”   Class teacher Phil Baldwin, from Edward Wilson Primary School, also feels that taking part in Artis sessions helps his own pedagogic practice. “It’s fantastic to take part in the classes and pick up creative learning methods. Our learning assistants love it too.   “Being with Smiles gives me the added luxury of stepping back and watching the children. I learn so much about my pupils in this way. I can see where they are doing well, look at how they are interacting with each other and learn who needs extra help and why.”   Training and developing staff is important for us too. We invest some £2,000 a year on every Specialist. This includes initial training, followed by a rolling programme of development days for as long as the Specialist stays with us. Every Artis Specialist has a Mentor, always a more experienced member of the Artis team. Mentors are in weekly contact with their mentees and will observe them during school sessions four times a year. Artis Specialists must also carry out peer observation regularly so they can learn from colleagues.   Our Mentors undergo dedicated training to help them become effective guides. Mentors meet as a group with their Mentor Leader every two months to look at specific issues such as discipline, planning and behavioural management. In this way developments or new practices can cascade back down to Specialists.   “We have a firm and disciplined set up,” adds Zap. “This is what gives us our reputation for quality and high standards. In the last year we achieved accreditation for our training from the Royal Northern College of Music. Now Artis Specialists can take part in extended studies and a project. With our standard training, this forms a Postgraduate Diploma qualification.   “We strive to be the best in our field, and I think the bedrock of that is our training, self-reflection and development. These skills trickle down to the sessions, the children and the teachers whom we work alongside.   “Always our first line of thought is how can we give our best, both to the children and the staff. It’s something we are passionate about, and everyone at Artis shares that commitment. And we have fun too! Just ask anyone who’s ever taken part in our staff development workshops…skipping games and singing songs together isn’t just for kids, you know”